Prince delivers message of hope in Dubbo
DUBBO: Prince Harry has urged the people of Dubbo battling drought to seek the support they need, saying in his own darkest hours asking for help was the best thing he ever did.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived at Dubbo’s Victoria Park yesterday to thunderous applause as the heavens opened over the droughtstricken regional city.
In the pouring rain, as Meghan held an umbrella over him, Harry delivered a heartfelt message of hope, telling the crowd the best thing about coming to the country was the people.
‘‘You are the salt of the earth, honest, hardworking and as tough as they come,’’ he said.
‘‘But I know that life has not been easy; you have just lived through two years of drought . . . it must be hard not to lose hope when you endure so many dry months end on end knowing that you are powerless to do anything about it.’’
The newlymarried prince told the crowd that part of being strong was having the courage to ask for help. He spoke of high suicide rates and the need for a strong community to help others who are doing it tough. ‘‘You must not silently suffer and, if I may speak personally, we are all in this together, because asking for help was some of the best decisions I ever made.’’
It was a touching break from royal protocol for Prince Harry to speak of his personal struggles with mental health.
For the 15,000strong crowd, the visit was a desperately needed boost to morale.
Used to the platitudes of politicians, farmers in the crowd said they could tell Prince Harry’s speech came from the heart.